Many drivers wary of old Terror-dega

Talladega

Posted: Thursday, April 19, 2001

By Don CobleStaff Writer

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- No news was bad news for the drivers who face the Talladega this Sunday.

When NASCAR announced last month the rules package for the fastest raceway on the stock car circuit would essentially remain the same, it instantly stirred memories of the 19-car crash at the season-opening Daytona 500 and a last-lap accident that left racing icon Dale Earnhardt dead.

Drivers don't like to admit fear. But they clearly are spooked by the prospect of 500 miles of racing during this Sunday's Talladega 500.

''It only takes one mistake to easily wipe out 25 cars,'' said two-time series champion Terry Labonte. ''And anybody can make a mistake. It's hard to run 500 miles like that and not have somebody make a little bobble.''

A little bobble usually turns into a great big wreck. Cars end up in the junkyard and drivers wind up on a hospital gurney -- or worse.

Call it Terror-dega. Or Talla-dangerous. Or Talla-disastrous.

Rules that restrict engine power and create extra downforce at Talladega and the Daytona International Speedway have made all 43 cars for this Sunday's race equal, perhaps too equal. And when the lead pack is four-cars-wide and 10-cars-deep, it creates a 190-mph traffic jam that's an accident waiting to happen.

NASCAR added a plate between the carburetor and engine to reduce speeds by 25 mph to keep the cars from becoming airborne at its two fastest tracks. A year ago, it added a higher rear spoiler, a lower front bumper and a special air-deflection strip across the roof to create downforce and drag to make the cars more competitive. Most now say the rules are too good, because it makes everyone too equal on race day.

The only modifications to the rules since Daytona were slight changes to the Dodges and Fords to make them more competitive against the Chevrolets and Pontiacs.

The most vocal opponent of the restrictor plate package was Dale Earnhardt. He carried that fight all the way to his grave. Now the rest of the racing community is picking up the slack.

''It's not something I look forward to,'' said three-time champion Jeff Gordon. ''It's a very, very strenuous race. Last time we were there, my eyeballs hurt. You have to use your concentration so much. There's just no room for error at all with 43 cars out there and the way we're stacked up with the rules we have.''

Drivers not only don't like the rules, but they want a greater voice in what happens on the race track. Some feel the sanctioning body creates situations without knowledge of their ramifications.

''We drivers, as a community, need to start having a voice in what happens and what some of the rules are,'' said Todd Bodine. ''If we could form a committee, we'd have a single voice to speak for us and make us heard.''

''We need to come together a little bit,'' said driver Jeff Burton. ''Maybe we need to have a neighborhood meeting to figure out how to fix this problem. We need to be willing to spend time, energy and effort, even money if we have to, to make ourselves available to help with the problem.

''And NASCAR needs to be a little more open to listening to us in a formal setting.''

Two years ago, the only special rule for Talladega and Daytona was the restrictor plate. Cars were so unstable in turbulent air that passing was difficult. Drivers were too uncomfortable to ride side-by-side or nose-to-tail, so the main events became an exercise of follow-the-leader. There were nine lead changes at the 2000 Daytona 500, 27 during the Talladega 500 and just 10 changes at the Pepsi 400 at Daytona.

This article published in the Athens Daily News on Thursday, April 19, 2001.